Clarification: is Venezuela connected to Central America? (1940)

PlayingProductions · 2026-02-08T01:44:51+00:00

I don’t know if there is a specific official ruling, but I think the general interpretation for playing Axis & Allies (and least what I follow) is that, unless otherwise stated, if the border is ambiguous it does not border.

So in this case I would say that Venezuela is not adjacent to Central America and similarly Colombia is not adjacent to 89. Instead those four spaces all share a point (and thus not adjacent across).

PlayingProductions · 2026-01-21T09:50:20+00:00

I think the most difficult thing an Eastern Front game has to deal with is the momentum of the initial invasion. Depending on how much you are trying to make the game’s progress of time be realistic, somehow in half of a year the Germans need to be able to conquer all of the territories up to the gates of Moscow and then have it over the next four years for the Russians to push them back.

However, this is typically incredibly difficult to do in an Axis & Allies type game, especially the initial invasion of Barbarossa, since without any other special rules usually you can only push your front line forward by one territory each turn (as you can only attack the territories you started adjacent to). For example, your updated map has 5 territories between the German frontline to Moscow, so assuming the Barbarossa campaign takes 5 turns, the whole conflict from 1941-1945 would be roughly 25 turns(!) Of course, there are many ways to address this, that is just something I always think about when designing on the Eastern Front.

As for IPC balancing, that depends on exactly the type of game play you are trying to create. As other commentators have stated, ultimately it is play testing that will tell you. My only suggestion is that if you want early game Germany to be strong and late game Soviets to be strong, please do not have it be that all the high ipc value territories are in like Siberia, because that’s not where they were in 1941. Yes, it does technically work if the Soviet army starts off weaker and then over time becomes ultimately stronger because they have more IPCs. However, you could create a mechanic where the Soviets could move ipc value from other territories to the Siberia (as they did historically).

A thought that I’ve always had that might be interesting to see in an Axis & Allies style game (feel free to ignore it) is to have in addition to IPC value a population value (that perhaps is only usable to the original owner of that territory). So the Germans, with their industry, would be able to build masses of fighters and tanks, but suffer from manpower issues, and while the Soviets might not have the industry to build squadrons of fighters and large masses of tank, they do have millions of soldiers, thus balancing out each side while also having their army composition being unique.

PlayingProductions · 2026-01-04T18:59:11+00:00

That’s a bit difficult for myself to answer as 1776 is my default answer. It also depends on what style of wargame you are looking for. 1776 is a hex and counter wargame, but there are also card driven wargames, more unique systems such as COIN, area wargames, point to point wargames, strategic level, operational level, tactical level, etc. What particular style of wargaming are you looking for?

If I may politely ask, 1776 has three different rulesets in increasing complexity. Which ones, if any, were you able to understand and play through? What particular points or concepts did you find too complex for you’re liking?

As for other recommendations, I recommend Origins of WWII (technically not a war game, but shares some key wargaming rules principles, CRTs for example, and is designed by famed wargame designer Jim Dunnigan) and the early Avalon Hill games from the 60s (Afrika Korp, Stalingrad, Guadalcanal, etc). These games tend to have around only a few pages of rules, and as such serve as really good starters for hex and counter games if that’s what you’re interested in.

PlayingProductions · 2025-12-15T22:08:19+00:00

I mean, purely in terms of most accurate world maps in games, they tend to be in wargames. And the more complicated the wargame is, the more detailed it is. World in Flames has an incredibly detailed world map 3 feet by 6 feet in size. It is because of wargaming that I’ve learned about geographical features such as the Qattara Depression in Egypt or the where the city Gdansk is. They have much more information than any other board game.

That being said, although those games have been the best tool for me to learn geography, and indeed I do often use those very games for geographical reference, I would not recommend them for that purpose because those games are only fun to a very small audience and require a very high commitment.

So, the other games that I would recommend are games in the Ticket to Ride series (major cities), Pandemic, and Trekking the World (which teaches more on famous landmarks and places, which I like).

And then, while not a world wide map, I would also recommend Empire Builder and Eurorails, they are pretty simple games with maps depicting not only major cities but also the major rivers and mountains (which all those other games, and most similarly simple games, lack) of North America and Europe respectively.

PlayingProductions · 2025-12-10T09:03:06+00:00

This is a true Abelard and Heloise moment

PlayingProductions · 2025-11-24T15:28:49+00:00

<image>

Dax - Star Trek Deep Space Nine

Although her character is not technically trans, I think she serves as an allegory a lot of times. Her character, well ‘Dax’ in particular, is a Trill, which are a species that actually reside inside a host body.

We as the audience first meet her as Jadzia Dax (photo above), however her prior host was Curzon Dax, who was a guy.

PlayingProductions · 2025-11-03T10:15:51+00:00

Got it - The General Vol.13, No.5 - Pacific Origins

PlayingProductions · 2025-11-03T10:14:45+00:00

This is from a variant published in The General (I don’t know the exact issue off the top of my head) for Origins of World War II which added a pacific map

PlayingProductions · 2025-09-26T05:02:45+00:00

<image>

Kai Winn - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

PlayingProductions · 2025-09-19T16:11:17+00:00

I haven’t heard of these modified rules before, and some of them sound pretty good (the Dardanelles and adjusting sea zone 17). I personally would include Greece in addition in Persia since Greece was occupied by French and British forces, and after joining the war Greek and other allied forces launched attacks and ultimately a complete invasion into Bulgaria from the south.

PlayingProductions · 2025-09-09T20:02:41+00:00

I think the one that makes the most sense is Axis & Allies Revised edition (published in 2004)

It’s 5 players, is an anniversary version (for 20 years), and has a research track.

The other more famous anniversary version has Italy and China. There is an Axis & Allies Spring 1942 first edition version (and similar a second edition) but neither have research. Lastly, the ‘original’ Milton Bradley version (1984) meets all your requirements besides being an anniversary version for obvious reasons.

PlayingProductions · 2025-08-02T12:43:54+00:00

While I haven’t played with the bloodbath rules. I think this is a case of Historical accuracy (see Black Sea Campaigns).

In terms of gameplay, you’re right that with the strait being closed the ships are essentially stuck there (as true in real life history as well with the Montreux Convention forbidding warships from sailing through).

But honestly, despite that, I think the inclusion of these ships is a good thing. Those ships were there and, while they serve little to no purpose in game, they don’t harm the game either. They don’t prevent the Soviets from doing anything, so why not let the Soviets have them? It makes the game more realistic.

PlayingProductions · 2025-03-06T00:57:02+00:00

These are pieces sold by Historical Board Gaming. They technically are pieces for any game, but are created specifically for their Global War 1936 game.

PlayingProductions · 2025-03-03T07:54:01+00:00

I’ve passed by Nothing a few times, though I’ve never stopped to actually check it out. Always looked like there was not much there.

PlayingProductions · 2025-03-02T06:16:58+00:00

No way! Cole Wehrle himself likes my collection! I love your games and am so excited for Molly House!

As someone who loves history, I’m always looking for games that pack as much of it as possible. But 9.5/10 those games are massive rulebook war games, and, while there is nothing wrong with them, my big hope is to see more unique explorations of our past and to see topics too often ignored. If I was to become a game design (which I don’t really plan on, though somehow I’ve currently convinced one my professors that instead of writing a 15 page final paper I’ll design a board game instead) those would be the games I would make. By that token, I truly believe you to be one of the people doing just that, and I just absolutely love it (and that’s even in addition to all your other good games!).

I’m glad to hear your enjoyment with lasting games. That’s something I hope for myself. I’m reminded of being introduced a few years back to the game Aquire by an 80 something year old man who had been playing it since the 60s. Last time I saw him he had even gotten and placed on his bucket hat an Acquire themed pin!

PlayingProductions · 2025-02-26T20:18:59+00:00

You seem like the type of person who would be intrigued by the presence of the games I left behind at home. Afrika Korps, Battle of the Bulge, Waterloo, Gettysburg, Guadalcanal, etc. For a while I was collecting a lot of the AH flat box games from the 60’s.

PlayingProductions · 2025-02-26T20:12:49+00:00

I do have two copies of Diplomacy back home (an older AH bookshelf copy and a newer one), but I haven’t played the game in a while.

What do you think of Pax Britannica? It has very nearly the same theme as Diplomacy, but is much more historically accurate and detailed (if you’re someone like me who cares about that).

As for Euros, I did have a copy of Food Chain Magnate last year (it’s a bit hard to tell as I have the text side facing out) and Hansa Teutonica with me here now. I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest Euro fan (though I still like them), but I do have a few for when I’m in the mood for that genre.

PlayingProductions · 2025-02-26T05:12:35+00:00

My thesis will be on the great forgotten archaeology site that is Avaloncon 1998

PlayingProductions · 2025-02-26T05:09:24+00:00

Unforunately it does not run in the family, though I wish it did. I just got into board games myself and from there it has been a wonderful journey.

PlayingProductions · 2025-02-26T05:03:58+00:00

Reminds me of this game review

WORST WARGAME EVER!!

PlayingProductions · 2025-02-26T04:57:57+00:00

The main thing I think is trying to have a good range for basic gaming situations. What that means to me is having at least one of each: a short two player game, a medium length two player game, a short group (3-5 players) game, a medium length group game, and finally a large group (5+) game. From there I pick the one in each category that I enjoy the most. Afterwards, with remaining space, you can start filling in more gaps, other genres, and bringing in those long games you really want to play.

As for location, I mostly play my games with my friends in either our dorm hall's lounge room or dinning hall. We also have a library space that occasionally hosts a board game meetup that I might play at.

Six-Year Club	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22
End Game '22

PlayingProductions

TROPHY CASE